CHILDREN ARE NOT PERFECT!!!!

Ok, I thoroughly enjoyed the Olympics opening ceremony, as I always have. Some of the synchronized parts involving such huge numbers of Chinese was truly amazing, although at a few spots I did get a horrible flashback to the Berlin Olympics. Maybe I'm the only person who even thought about that, but such perfection in such large numbers of people makes it hard to understand a society where the individual is subordinate to the common good.

That's why I am so disappointed, no OUTRAGED, although frankly not surprised, to read this morning that the precious little girl, with the crystal clear voice, was NOT SINGING the Chinese National Anthem!!

It has been revealed that the child who REALLY sang was not considered cute enough ... that she did not portray the proper image of the Chinese people at what they considered to be the most important part of the ceremony ... when the Chinese flag was brought into the stadium.

So, all those perfectly performing thousands, acting with one mind .....


And then one little girl, singled out ... alone in the spotlight ... and IT WAS FAKE!!!!

Yes, I think China DID "portray the proper image of the Chinese people"!!!!

But the message that was sent to the inner core of YANG PEIYI, the little girl who REALLY sang?? I don't care how indoctrinated they are, that child is hurt. She may never say or do anything to show it, but there is a part of her self image that will never be the same!

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time you know that I don't normally deviate from talking about my own childhood memories, but I just couldn't help myself this morning.

Fouad al-Farhan STILL BEING DETAINED in SAUDI ARABIA??

Something prompted me to try to find out if the detention of the Saudi blogger had really only lasted a few days, as originally reported that it would. When I Googled his name, I was overwhelmed by various links to sites demanding his release.

I leave it to you, dear reader, to decide for yourself which sites are genuine, and which are just using his cause to grind their own ax.


I just know that for me personally, I am deeply moved that something as simple as expressing his own views about life and politics in his own country has gotten this young man into so much trouble.

I pray for his family, and for his quick release from jail.

We take so much for granted!!!!

Not the Kind of News You Like to Read as a New Year Begins

International / Middle East
Saudis Confirm Detention of Blogger

By KATHERINE ZOEPF
Published: January 2, 2008

An outspoken Saudi blogger is being held for “purposes of interrogation,” the Saudi Interior Ministry confirmed.

I followed the link to see this man's blog, not really knowing what to expect when I got there. It was no surprise that it was in Arabic, but the copy of his letter, predicting his arrest, plus some posts that friends have made since then, are in English.

I have no political agenda in presenting this New York Times article. It's just a sad commentary on our world, when there are countries on our planet where Freedom of Speech is not even a Yesterday's Memory, where it has never really existed at all.

I thank God that I am an American, that I begin a new year full of hope for the best, not dreading the worst, as this young man did. May we be ever vigilant that we do not allow our personal freedoms to be eroded, as we strive to protect our country.